It's hard to be Sprint these days. Its LTE rollout is lagging way behind the competition, it's losing subscribers and cash fast, and everyone is making fun of its "Framily" plans. That's too bad, but Sprint isn't going to get back in our good graces by charging money for things we already have or don't need in the first place. That's just what it's doing with the new Total Equipment Protection (TEP) Plus plan.

This new type of phone insurance bumps the cost of the most expensive plan by $2 for a total monthly charge of $13. What do you get as part of the TEP Plus plan? I'm glad you asked.

Remotely find a phone from the secure web portal using GPS or lock and erase personal information from a missing phone (lock is Android only)

Provide one-click direct access to a tech expert for premium support to address any smartphone issue – no matter how simple or complex.

These features are all built into the Sprint Protect app in Google Play. The basic backup and device location features are included with all TEP plans, but you need TEP Plus for the rest. I feel the need to point out that Android Device Manager does all the tracking/wipe stuff, Google+ backs up photos, and Play Services includes malware detection. That's all free and already works on Android devices. Oh, but there's the device tune-up feature in TEP Plus... well, I'm sure that's not snake oil.

The direct tech support might be of use to some people, but there's no way of knowing what Sprint considers to be an "expert" level of knowledge about Android. TEP Plus also includes all the premium device replacement insurance in the event of loss of damage. You can get that stuff cheaper if you're worried about your phone surviving for two years.

Sprint isn't going after you with the new plan – it wants your mom to sign up. Do your mom a favor and don't let that happen.

Ryan is a tech/science writer, skeptic, lover of all things electronic, and Android fan. In his spare time he reads golden-age sci-fi and sleeps, but rarely at the same time. His wife tolerates him as few would.
He's the author of a sci-fi novel called The Crooked City, which is available on Amazon and Google Play.

Comments

Just curious, what are the cost differences between carriers on phone insurance.
On Tmobile it is 8 for PHP or 10 if you include JUMP

Kevin Mills

AT&T is $6.99, and carries up to a $199 deductible.
Verizon is $8-$9.99, and carries either a $99 (Android) or $169/$199 (iPhone)
Sprint is $13, and carriers either $149 or $199 deductible.

Aooga

Using gingerbread in the screenshots I see. What is it with rich companies using the worst android developers they can find?

Adam Bickley

I think it's more amazing that it's Gingerbread on a device that appears to be something in the Galaxy S3-S5 series. That should FLY on that hardware.

firesoul453

Can't wait to leave sprint!

DirtySanto

I worked for this company for about 3 months. 3 Months too long. 3 months of nickle and dime type tactics and poor poor poor data service. Needless to say, i was let go for advocating customers to T-mobile and Verizon just to save their souls. LOL

Nicholas Ruiz

I think Sprint hates its customers

flosserelli

Not as much as Verizon hates theirs.

Heimrik

I'll have to agree there... Verizon is the King of all wallet rapists....

flosserelli

Brilliant. Now Sprint has another buffer to absolve them from culpability when their subscribers can't get a signal.

"No service? You probably have a defective phone. Aren't you glad you got that extra protection plan for only $13 a month?"

Robb Nunya

$13 a month? Screw that. I can replace my phone for $100 right now. Furthermore, there are 4 phones on my plan, so $624 a year extra on my bill is insanity.